How to Get Rid of Beetles on Tomato Plants

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How to Get Rid of Beetles on Tomato Plants

Overview

There are several different types of pests that can bother your tomato plants. Beetles are one of those types. You may find blister beetles, Colorado potato beetles, or flea beetles on your tomato plants. These beetles mainly eat the leaves of the tomato plant, leaving behind small and large holes. If you see these beetles, you will want to get rid of them as soon as possible.

Step 1

Pour water in your bucket. Then add the dish soap. This is the base of your homemade insecticidal soap.

Step 2

Drip the vegetable oil and neem oil into your bucket. Mix all of the ingredients. The vegetable oil helps the insecticidal soap stay on the tomato plant, while the neem oil works as an all-natural pesticide to kill the beetles.

Step 3

Transfer your insecticidal soap to an empty spray bottle.

Step 4

Spray your tomato plants with your homemade insecticidal soap. Concentrate on the leaves as this is where you will find most of the beetles.

Step 5

Repeat every four to five days, or after a rainfall. This insecticide will both kill the beetles that are on the tomato plants and keep new beetles from feasting on the leaves.

Tips and Warnings

You can use chemical insecticides to get rid of the beetles on your tomato plants, but be aware that some of the chemicals may seep in to the plant. When you eat the tomato, you eat the chemicals.

Things You'll Need

1 quart water

Small bucket

1 1/2 tsp. dish soap

5 drops of vegetable oil

10 drops neem oil

Empty spray bottle

References

North Carolina State University: Pests of Tomatoes

Tomato Pro: Tomato Pests and What to do About Them

Advice on Gardening: Homemade Insecticidal Soap

Keywords:
tomato plants, beetles, insecticide

About this Author

Alicia Bodine has been a professional writer for six years. She has produced thousands of articles for online publications such as Demand Studios, Bright Hub, Associated Content and WiseGeek. Bodine is also the current cooking guru for LifeTips. She has received awards for being a top content producer.